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Tennessee Onions

Crispy and flavorful Tennessee Onions, a delightful alternative to traditional onion rings, perfect for impressing family and friends.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American, Southern
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Onions
  • 2 large sweet onions Think Vidalia for that extra sweetness
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • 1 cup buttermilk homemade or store-bought
  • Oil for frying vegetable or peanut oil works great
For the Dipping Sauce
  • 1 cup mayonnaise because what isn't better with mayo?
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp mustard
  • a sprinkle of paprika it sounds fancy, but it’s super easy!

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Slice those onions: Start by peeling your onions and slicing them into thick rings, about 1/2 inch wide.
  2. Separate the rings: Gently separate the onion rings and set them aside.
Mixing the Dry Batter
  1. Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and black pepper.
  2. Egg and Buttermilk Mixture: In another bowl, combine the beaten eggs and buttermilk.
Frying
  1. Heat the Oil: In a large frying pan, heat about 2 inches of oil over medium-high heat.
  2. Batter Dip: Dip each onion ring into the buttermilk mixture first, followed by the dry batter mixture.
  3. Fry the Rings: Carefully place the battered onion rings into the hot oil without overcrowding. Fry until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes on each side.
  4. Drain and Serve: Once crispy and golden, remove them from the oil and let them drain on paper towels.
Whip Up the Dipping Sauce
  1. Mix the Sauce: Combine mayonnaise, honey, mustard, and paprika in a bowl and stir well.

Notes

For best results, keep the oil hot; fry only a few onion rings at a time to maintain crispiness. Feel free to experiment with spices in the batter.